Building paints manufacturer swoops prestigious sustainability prize
An innovative building paints manufacturer, operating in the UK as alsecco, has been awarded a prestigious sustainability prize for its work on addressing future climate challenges.
The company, known for its sustainable and climate-friendly approach, took the top spot from a field of hundreds of entrants in the medium-sized companies category of the German Sustainability Award 2018.
“As a driver of innovation, the company is a fine example of how setting sustainability as a core objective determines company activities and how providing a wide range of ecological products can change customers’ thinking,” the award’s judges explained.
The company’s management team collected their prize at an award ceremony in Düsseldorf on the 8th of December. This year’s event was held under the patronage of Federal President Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier. It is the tenth time the prize has been given to companies and individuals pioneering creative solutions for tomorrow’s challenges, covering areas such as economics, research, architecture and communities.
Around 1,200 people attended the evening, including representatives from companies, communities, politics and research while well-known laudatory speakers, including North Rhine-Westphalia’s President Armin Laschet, presented the awards to the winners.
“Being among the first three for the German Sustainability Award is a great delight for us as a family company and is encouragement to continue in making positive contributions in efficiency, environmental protection and for the wellbeing of people,” said Dr. Ralf Murjahn, CEO of alsecco’s parent company.
“Our success is also demonstrated by an ever-increasing proportion of innovative products and the use of renewable raw materials,” explained company Director Dr. Christoph Hahner who is responsible for innovation, research & development.
The company’s interest in climate protection stems from their understanding that the building and real estate industry is responsible for over one third of worldwide CO2 emissions and urgently needs more energy efficient building design. Despite this fact, the use of thermal insulation has reduced in recent years.
“Here, we see a big opportunity to actively push on with sustainable building and climate protection as a pioneer in the field of sustainable coatings in the hope of countering these effects on the environment. Getting this award recognises this commitment,” said Head of Sustainability Management, Bettina Klump-Bickert.
The big-thinking parent firm behind alsecco continually seek reductions in manufacturing emissions from their Integrated Management System Manufacturing and its German operations are 100 percent climate-neutral. Recent innovations like building control, heat recovery and the use of LEDs have created an 18 percent energy saving for the company over the last four years.
Socially, DAW is committed to its employees in a variety of ways and has a diverse workforce, including persons with disabilities. It also manages its own advancement award to reward the performance of the painting trade.
Since being formed in 1895, DAW has been regarded as an innovative supplier of environmentally-friendly and health-conscious products and services. The company is looking to expand its contribution towards future-focused sustainable economic activities and become a forerunner in this way of thinking within its industry.
